Thursday, 15 October 2009

Trial of a member of Indian Border Security Force (BSF) has begun for killing three innocent Bangladeshis by crossing the border in Tentulia upazila of Panchagarh district on November 16 last year.

The accused, BSF jawan RP Singh is being tried as per departmental rules, BSF sources said.

On Monday, two Bangladeshi doctors -- Dr Abdul Qaiyum, head of the Department of Surgery of Rangpur Medical College Hospital and Dr Baharam Ali, resident medical officer of Panchagarh Sadar Hospital -- went to Phulbari BSF camp through Banglabandha border and gave their statements before the trial court.

The two doctors gave treatment to the injured including RP Singh, who was caught by the villagers during the incident, and conducted autopsy of the killed persons.

The same court on Saturday took statement of Sub-Inspector Abdul Latif, who was working at Tentulia Police Station during November 16 killings by BSF. Latif rescued RP Singh from villagers and rushed him to Panchagarh Sadar Hospital for treatment.

Eight to 10 drunken BSF personnel including RP Singh from Nayabari camp in India entered Mynaguri village of Tentulia near Majipara border on November 16 night and ransacked several houses.

When villagers protested, the BSF men entered the house of Shahidul Islam and fired indiscriminately, killing three people including a minor boy and injuring another person.

Villagers then caught RP Singh and gave him a good beating. He was handed over to BSF through a sector commander-level meeting several days later.

Following the incidents, the BSF authorities formed the six-member court headed by a deputy inspector general